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The early morning blaze at a southwestern Ontario home claimed the lives of two women, aged 37 and 83, and two children, aged 2 and 15.

An overnight house fire in a southwestern Ontario community has left a woman, her grandmother and her two children dead. Relative Liz Winger says the family "can't deal with Christmas" after the tragedy in Port Colborne.(The Canadian Press )

Fire and police personnel survey the damage to a home in Port Colborne, Ontario, where a fire broke out overnight. (Aaron Lynett / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

As his home burned, the father sobbed and begged for help to rescue his family trapped inside, Gerry said. He escaped wearing only his boxers, she said.

“He was in really bad shape,” Gerry said.

He was begging for help to save his “babies,” she said.

An 83-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

As of Wednesday night, the bodies of the other three victims remained unaccounted for.

The fire’s extensive damage and difficult winter weather conditions kept Ontario Fire Marshal’s investigators from entering the building all day Wednesday.

Police have not identified the victims, but did say they were all from the same family.

The Canadian Press reported that the victims are Tammy Burd, 37, her children Samantha Zuvic, 15, and Joshua Zuvic, 2, and Tammy’s grandmother, Eva Burd, 83.

Tammy’s aunt, Liz Winger, rushed to the area when she heard the news.

“We are taking it hour by hour,” Winger told The Canadian Press. “We are there for each other, because that’s all we can do. We are cancelling our Christmas because we just can’t deal with Christmas.”

“It’s terrible,” said neighbour Dennis Stewart, who has known the family for years. According to Stewart, the elderly woman and her son lived in the front of the home, with the parents, toddler and teenager living in the back.

“My kids used to play with the family,” said Stewart, who was awoken along with his 10-year-old son by sirens and flashing lights shortly after midnight.

“The house was engulfed in flames,” said Stewart.

Fatal house fires are rare in the small community on Lake Erie. Fire Chief Thomas Cartwright said that before Tuesday night’s blaze, his city had seen only four fire-related deaths in as many decades.

The fire chief was overcome with emotion as he spoke to reporters, saying both firefighters and the community are struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

“Obviously, this time of year is very devastating. I’m concerned about my people and my emotions speak for themselves.”

By Wednesday morning, the fire had been extinguished, but the home remained unsafe to enter, Niagara Regional police Const. Phil Gavin said.

Firefighters faced freezing temperatures during both the battle to control the blaze and the investigation afterwards.

Heavy machinery was brought in Wednesday afternoon to try to assist with the investigation.

Wednesday evening, hampered by driving snow and fading light, Ontario Fire Marshal’s investigators were forced to delay a more detailed search of the home until Thursday, Gavin said.

“Right now, the entire roof has collapsed into the residence and it burned for a little while, so it’s certainly a concern whether it’s safe to put people in there,” he said.

Gavin said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire, adding that the coroner’s office is on the scene investigating alongside the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office.

Samantha Zuvic is believed to have been a student at Port Colborne High School. The flag there flew at half-mast Wednesday.

Her friend Kristen Walker said she knew Samantha from class.

“Once you got to know her, she was really funny, and she was super kind,” Walker said.

Photos on Facebook show Samantha at a semi-formal dance on Dec. 1. In one of the photos, Samantha is surrounded by friends smiling and making silly faces at the camera.

“Everybody took it very, very hard today,” Walker said. “I was walking down the hallway and people were just bawling.”

Walker said the school held a prayer service in the auditorium that was well attended.

“So many people came out and appreciated her,” Walker said. “It’s crazy, it’s just so hard.”

The family set up an official GoFundMe page was set up Wednesday to help cover funeral costs. With a goal of $25,000, it had reached $265 by 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

A second GoFundMe page was also set up Wednesday by a woman named Danielle Charest. By 9:30 that page had raised more than $3,000.

“May you (rest in peace) Tammy. And Sam and Josh, words can’t describe how I feel right now,” friend Rachel Keeley wrote on Tammy’s Facebook wall Wednesday afternoon. “I am going to miss our laughs at work and the good times we had . . . I am still in shock,” she wrote.

Gerry said she is crushed at the overwhelming loss.

“I’ve never cried so much in my entire life,” she said. “I haven’t slept. I haven’t done anything.”

There will be no more trips to the beach with the children, she said. And no more gifts to shower upon the two-year-old boy.

Gerry’s daughters, aged 8 and 10, were excited for Christmas because they adored the little boy.

“We got him a cute little outfit,” Gerry said, crying. “Now, I don’t know what we’ll do. It just breaks my heart that he’s not going to be around anymore.”

With files from The Canadian Press and Niagara This Week

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